Career Development

The goal of these grants is to provide support to Leducq Fellows to pursue well-defined inter-network collaborative projects.

A Specific Aim should be written that incorporates the following:

1. The application of a new technology to address Xenogenic or Exogenic organ production

2. The generation of preliminary data for a new translational research goal and grant application focused on xenogenic or exogenic organ production

3. The facilitation of inter-hub network collaboration from two different labs

Download application instructions

Recent Jump Start Awardees:

Ashgar Ali, DVM, PhD
Eckhard Wolf Laboratory-Munich
"Decoding Cellular Omics in Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer"
Laboratory PI: Dr. Eckhard Wolf

Collaborating Network Lab: Dr. Daniel Reichart Laboratory

This grant aims to address the epigenetic abnormalities that ensue following somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) which contribute to cloning inefficiencies.  This study, performed in pigs with an Auckland Island background, will compare gene expression profiles across various cell lines (those produced by SCNT versus those produced by breeding) to identify pathways that may influence SCNT efficiency.

Specific Aims:

To perform comprehensive profiling of global microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA expression from different cell lines varying in SCNT efficiency including:

(1) founder cell lines from New Zealand,

(2) cells from cloned pigs exhibiting reduced recloning efficiency, and

(3) cells derived from the offspring of these cloned pigs.

 Significant differences between different cell lines, both at miRNA and mRNA levels are anticipated.  These studies will provide important networking opportunities for the applicant as well as providing important information to allow for novel epigenetic modifications for superior efficiency following somatic cell nuclear transfer. 

Hisato Nagano MD, PhD
Hiro Nakauchi/Hideki Masaki Laboratory-Tokyo
"Development of Transplantable Humanized Skin with Appendages Using p63 Knockout Pig Embryos"

Laboratory PI: Hideki Masaki, PhD (Hiro Nakauchi, PhD)
Collaborating Network Lab: Dr. Eckhard Wolf

There is a critical shortage of skin grafts for transplantation, particularly for patients with severe and extensive burns. Existing artificial skin substitutes, including cultured epidermis, lack essential components like skin appendages and face clinical challenges related to engraftment, durability, and functionality.  We have developed a novel method of producing human skin in a p63 murine mouse model but the grafts are of inadequate size to be used as a human therapeutic.  Here, we will produce human skin in porcine embryos to provide larger graft size.

Specific Aims:
Aim #1:  Production of p63 porcine knock out embryos, transfer in to surrogate pigs, and complementation of human cells by delivery into the amniotic fluid.
Aim #2:  Harvest of embryos between gestational days 60-113 for genetic, molecular, and histological analyses to assess the development of humanized skin and skin appendages.

This collaboration is expected to enhance the applicant's research on organ generation in interspecies animals and advance the understanding and application of artificial skin substitutes, marking a milestone in xenogeneic organogenesis.
This award facilitates the sort of collaboration that is enabled by the Leducq network by using the resources of one of our award sites to complete research initiated at another award site.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships

• Postdocs of all fields

• Own research project for 2 years

• Career development scheme “Training through research“, soft skills

• Mobility rule: <12 months in the last 3 years in host country

• Typical career phase: “2nd postdoc“

• Postdocs with ≤ 8 years of full-time research experience after the PhD

European Research Council (ERC): Frontier Research

ERC Starting Grant

• Eligibility: 2-7 years after PhD

• Free choice of research topic

• Principal Investigator (PI) + Research group

• Funding: up to 1.5 Mio. EUR, incl. own position (+1 Mio € extra)

• 5 years

• Evaluation of German Grantees:

❖ Ca. 50% professors
❖ Ca. 35% working group leaders

ERC Consolidator Grant

• Eligibility: 7-12 years after PhD

• Free choice of research topic

• PI + Research group

• Funding: up to 2.0 Mio. €, incl. own position (+1 Mio € extra)

• 5 years

• Evaluation of German Grantees:

❖ Ca. 85% professors
❖ Ca. 15% working group leaders

ERC Advanced Grant

• Eligibility: 10 years of track record

• Free choice of research topic

• PI + Research group

• Funding: up to 2.5 Mio. EUR (+1 Mio € extra)

• 5 years

ERC Synergy Grant

• Group of 2-4 PIs + their research groups

• Free choice of research topic

• Funding: up to 10 Mio € (+ 4 Mio. € extra)

• 6 years

• Projects that could not be realised by one PI alone: utilisation of complementarities and synergies of the PIs, often interdisciplinary research

• The sum is greater than its parts

NIH opportunities 

Fellowships | CDA.
Eligibility: US citizen or permanent resident.
Program Project Grants (PPG)

DoD opportunities

Fellowships 1 | Fellowships 2.
Eligibility: US citizen or permanent resident.

AHA opportunities

View all opportunities.
Eligibility: open to all

MDA opportunities

View all opportunities.
Eligibility: open to all. 

Investment Opportunity Analyses

DFG Individual Research Project

• For postdoctoral researchers

• Research in Germany
  → the host institution becomes the employer

• Duration of generally up to 3 years

• Position (E13 to E14 TVöD/TV-L)
  + project funds

Emmy Noether Programme

• Eligible: Up to 4 years after doctorate (Medicine: 6)

• Funding for 6 years

• International experience expected

• Temporary substitute position for physicians

• Can be combined with tenure track professorship

Heisenberg Programme

• 4 variants (can be combined)

  • Scholarship

  • Professorship

  • Position

  • Substitute Position (Medicine)

• Max. duration: 5 years

• Heisenberg professorship: commitment to permanent appointment only required after approval

Humboldt Research Fellowship

(For some countries of origin: "Georg Forster” & “Capes” Fellowship)

• For whom: postdoctoral researchers & experienced researchers

• From where: all countries (excluding Germany)

• For what: 6–24-month research stay in Germany

Humboldt Research Fellowship

(For some countries of origin: "Georg Forster” & “Capes” Fellowship)

• For whom: internationally recognised researchers

• From where: all countries (excluding Germany)

• For what: €60,000 award money
  (research stay of up to 12 months in Germany possible)

Alexander von Humboldt Professorship

The Programme:

• Top appointments from abroad to Germany

• Sustainable concept for structural development

• Scope: 5 years; € 3.5 or 5 million in foundation funds, reinforcement and stabilisation through host institution

Note: Requires very early and intensive coordination with the host institution in advance.